Amimul Ehsan Barkati

Amimul Ehsan Barkati
Sayyid Muḥammad ʿAmīmul Eḥsān al-Barkatī was a Bangladeshi Islamic scholar who served as the third Khatib of the Baitul Mukarram National Mosque. He belonged to the Barelvi movement of Sunni Islam and mureed to Naqshbandhi-Mujaddidi order.
Early life
Sayyid Muhammad Amimul Ehsan Barkati was born on 24 January 1911 (22 Muharram, 1329 Hijri) at Pachna, Bihar, India to Hakeem Muhammad Abdul Mannan and Sayyeda Sajida. He was second among four brothers and three sisters. His family is from the Feni District of present-day Bangladesh.
Education
He received his primary Islamic education from his paternal uncle Abdud Dayyan. Later on, he had gained the knowledge of Tasawwuf from a Sufi scholar of India, Shah Abu Barkat Ali Shah. As he had become a murid of him, he added the title Barkati to his surname.
Barkati acquired his academic learning from the famous Calcutta Aliah Madrasah in 1926.
Career
In 1934, Barkati was appointed as the Imam and teacher of Calcutta Nakhoda Masjid. In 1935 he also got the responsibility of Head Mufti of that madrasa's Darul Ifta. In 1943, he joined Calcutta Aliya Madrasah. In 1971 he became the khatib of Baitul Mukarram, later the national mosque of Bangladesh. He held that position until his death in 1974.
Works
Barkati's works include:
Fiqhus-sunan wal Asar
Qawa'idul-Fiqh
Fatwae Barkati
Adabul Mufti
Al-Usool-ul-kargee
Usolul masailut iktilfat
At tasruf li Adabit Tasuuf
At-tanjed fe tawhid
At tanver fe usole tafseer
Tariqe Islam
Tariqe Ilme Haddes
Tariqe Ilme Fiqh
Sirajum munira Milad nama (سراجا منير)
Tarikae Hajj
Lubbul Usol
Maske Fariez
Minnatul bari
Mijanul Akbar
Miyarul Asar
Wasiyatnama
hadiyatul Musallin
Personal life
Barkati married Maymuna, daughter of his mentor and a Sufi saint Abu Muhammad Barkat Ali Shah. after death of Maymuna, he married Fatima and they have a son, Munim, and a daughter, Amina. Munim died when he was a child. His second wife died in 1937. He married Khadija and lived with her until his death. Among all the children of Barkati, only her youngest daughter Sayyeda Amina Khatun was alive during his death. She died in 1990. Barkati performed Hajj three times: in 1954, 1958 and in 1971.
Death
During 1973–74 Barkati's health started to deteriorate. In the year 1974 the committee of Baitul Mukarram had some issues with him to which he decided to not go again in Baitul Mukarram for further Juma prayer. He returns the key of his room and said, "I will not be coming next week". He died on 27 October 1974, 10th Shawwal 1394 Hijri. Next day on 28 October his funeral prayer was held at Baitul Mukarram.
Recognition
Daily Inqilab says he has been recognised as a Grand Mufti of Kolkata by Calcutta government of British India in 1935.
Alokito Bangladesh says he had received gold medal and certificates in 1974 for his contribution towards Islamic missionaries from Bangladesh Government.
References
1911 births
1974 deaths
20th-century Indian Muslims
20th-century Muslim scholars of Islam
Bangladeshi imams
Khatib of the national mosque of Bangladesh
Bangladeshi Sunni Muslim scholars of Islam
Bangladeshi people of Bihari descent
People from Sheikhpura district
Hanafi fiqh scholars